About the project
Study of gas channels in proteins. You will study gas channeling and structural dynamics in bacterial (tuberculosis), malarial, and plant enzymes involved in Vitamin B6 biosynthesis. Methods learned and applied will be high pressure and time resolved crystallography.
You will join the Structural Biology Groups at the University of Southampton and at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble (ESRF France).
The High-Pressure Macromolecular Crystallography laboratory at the ESRF will allow you to map gas channels in proteins and study gas transport.
Specifically, you will:
- investigate ammonia substrate transport through an internal protein channel in the vitamin B6 biosynthetic enzyme Pdx1 from plants, bacteria or from the malaria causing pathogen Plasmodium
- combine crystallography at cryogenic temperatures with time resolved studies at room temperature, using serial crystallography and spectroscopic techniques
Supervisors:
You will also be supervised by Dr Christoph Mueller Dieckmann and Dr Philippe Carpentier from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble.
Entry requirements
A background in structural biology or biophysical methods is desirable.
Ability to interact within a multi-disciplinary team.
Wide interest in instrumentation, methodology and applied biological research.
Proficiency in English (working language at the ESRF).
Fees and funding
How to apply
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
- choose PhD in Biological Sciences (Full time)
- add your supervisor in section 2
Applications should include:
- your CV (resumé)
- cover letter
- 2 reference letters
- degree transcripts to date
Contact us
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
If you have a general question, email our doctoral college (fels-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk).
Project leader
For an initial conversation, please email Prof Ivo Tews (ivo.tews@soton.ac.uk)
